St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-11-20

III
iLEfASll appears in the newspapers
|yWIINN' in reference to the hapleSS
fiIn1llllfT man, but it is soon forgot
ten by the public, and, at
best. is only read out of curiosity by the
people, who would hastily draw their
Skirts and go on the other side should
this sOrely afflicted mortal pass their
way. In all the range of diseases that
have afflicted humanity, there is none
that inspires more horror, creates more
diSmay, or leaves, even after the men,
ton of its name, a more sickening
dread than this aWfully loathSOme af-
Fiction of leprosy. 1t was, therefore,
with considerable interest that this very
alluring. although repulsive, subject
was carefully looked into, even to the
extent of spending couple of hours
with the unfortunate victim of the pest.
The widely spread belief that leprosyiS
confined to the warm climate of Asiatic
countries, is mistake. The disease
without any doubt originated among
people of a seni-trOpical climate. The
ancientS positively believed that it first
began in Egypt, and was carried by the
Jews, when delivered out of bondage,
into Palestine. The first knowledge
Europe had of it, was when it rayaged
almost the entire continent in the first
century before Christ, and became a fix
Northwest. bringing horror and
CAUSING DESOLATION
wherever it appeared. In the middle ages
1t began to grow less and less
in Europe. finally being restricted to a
few districts scattered at great dis
tances, one from the other. An artistic
treasure in connection with this subject
is the grand picture of Holbein. hung in
the Munich gallery. It&presentS st.
orix- 1HH win 70 hn
leperS of the middle ages; the group are
represented PROSTATE at her feet, and
the blOtcheS and sores, on
their bodies are so Sclen-
titically correct, that VirchOn,
the great German Savant, conjectureS
the painter must have made studies at
the leper house that existed in his day
at Augsburg. To the question is there
any hope for a person thus afflicted?
science so far has sadly had to reply no.
AS far as worldly knowledge goes, this
is an incurable constitutional ailment,
and is marked externally by diScOlored
patches and nOduleS on the skin, laSSi-
tude, mental depression, pains in the
limbs and a weak hOarSeneSS in speak
ing. There are two varieties, the spot
ted and the nodular. 1t is now endemic,
chiefly. but not exclusively among peO-
pie who inhabit the sea coast or the
estuaries of rivers, who live much on
fish (Often putrid), and who intermarry
closely. This and a good deal more
have the books got TO say in reference
TO leprOSy, but the full effect of its hor-
rOr. the lOathSOmeneSS of its appear
ance, the loneliness,
THE SUBLIME DEPTH OF MISERY
in which its victim is engulfed-aS if
sinking into ''clOaca" of filth and
slime with none to help or reaSsure,
lNr 10 mi w al an
The man with white fair skin, and con-
stitutiOn sound and healthy, meets a
Ieper face to face, and has the disease
disclosed to him, in all its naked ugli-
ness, and especially when coming direct
from the busy martS OF men. dropping
for the nOnce, the joys and ambitions,
that give life ZeSt, and work its crown
ing glory, leaving for awhile the friend |
ship, and cOmpanlOnShlp of beautiful |
fair women, and then suddenly to be |
transported into the presence of this |
living example. of the possibilities of |
misery humanity may be stepped in, |
and vet live and have an abiding faith |
in better and happier time in some |
future day. Such are some of the ret1ec |
tiOnS that sprung iGVOluntarily to the |
mind of GLOBE reporter, as he walked |
over few days ago to see the leper and |
converse with HIM. Passing over the |
Tenth avenue bridge and turning to the |
right on the East Side, there is flight |
of Tickety wooden steps going down the |
bluff; these lead to that ram Shackle |
portion of the town known as the |
flats. The residences of that delectable |
neighbOrhood we're certainly built for |
utility more than ornament, and the |
only approach to a street was narrow. |
rough, uneven pathway, along which |
the frame cottages were ranged in a |
most reckless manner, so far as a |
straight line is concerned.
THE RIVER SANG ITS SONG
as it murmured along in the shallow
way, now running swiftly ahead and
then caressing big boulder and gaily
Swishing this way and that. In fact,
despite the poverty Of the surroundings
the whole air of the place had TO
mantle look and seemed the fit abode of |
ore isolated from his fellow beings. At |
the end of the roadway already de- |
scribed stood a twO-StOry, weather. |
beaten shanty, surrounded by very |
big yard. inclOSed in a wooden paling. |
This was the leper'S home. On knock |
ing at the door fairly gOod-lOOking |
girl admitted the writer into little sit |
ting room and retired. as she |
remarked to the reporters intense |
amazement, '"TO fetch her papa" |
The room in which the writer sat was |
simply but neatly furnished. The make |
believe Of carpet was Oh the floor; the |
cooking stove was polished to such a |
condition one could part his hair in it as
in a looking glass; bed stood in one |
corner, a bureau in another, and the |
chairs were comfortable articles to sit |
on. Three pictures hung upon the wall; |
two were little landscapes, and the third |
over the bed represented an athletic, |
handsome looking young man with a |
kind. good honest face. In few min |
utes steps were heard approaching. The |
latch on the back door was thrown up, |
the door flew back. and there the leper |
stood revealed in all his nastiness of APP |
pearance and fOrlOrnness of demeanOr. |
Do you ask, Is it exaggerated about |
them?
Motifs not, by any means.
He Is MOST REPULSIVE
and Sickening to look at, and is a leper |
with the strongest and grayest symp- |
toms present in his case. In appear |
ance. and let it be understood this is
not said to make any ridicule Of the |
man whatsoever, but he really bears a |
strong resemblance to that freak of the |
dime museums, Jo-JO, the dog-faced |
boy. Add to the LONELINESS of this |
picture, face that is one great mass Of |
soreS-teeming with sores-runnlng |